Prison officer alleged to have had 'inappropriate contact' with inmate's wife

Wife of prisoner alleged she was being harassed by the officer via messages on her phone and also claimed the officer was bringing in drink and phones and doing bets for prisoners on the working landing of the prison, court heard

Further complaints about the officer were made by another prisoner, who alleged the officer had brought in a baby Nokia phone with a Sim card and charger and passed them to the husband of the woman who made the complaint. He also alleged that drugs and alcohol had been smuggled into the prison. File picture

A prison officer is not entitled to have a lawyer represent him at a disciplinary hearing over allegations including that he made inappropriate contact with the wife of a prisoner, the High Court has ruled.

The officer, who cannot be named, has brought proceedings against the governor of the prison he serves in and against the Irish Prison Service (IPS) over a refusal to permit him to have a lawyer at the hearing.